Are acorns poisonous to humans?

Acorns do present a health hazard to toddlers and infants, who sometimes choke on the hard nuts when they accidentally swallow them. Additionally, acorns can present a tripping hazard when they fall off of the oak tree. Oak leaves themselves are also poisonous, as they also contain high levels of tannins. read more

Acorns are 1–6 cm (0.39–2.36 in) long and 0.8–4 cm (0.31–1.57 in) broad. Acorns take between 6 and 24 months (depending on the species) to mature; see the list of Quercus species for details of oak classification, in which acorn morphology and phenology are important factors. read more

Raw acorns contain high concentrations of tannic acid, so their taste is bitter, and they can be toxic to humans if eaten in large quantities. Even the animals that eat acorns raw often find the tannins to be irritating; for this reason, few animals eat acorns exclusively, and some acorn-eaters allow the nuts to soak in water before they consume them. read more